Return to Merchantman 1863 EPF List
Click on images to view (if available) a larger image. Use your browser’s Back button to return to site.
Mary Carson Midwife – m James Carson by Jean McDonald October 2010 EPG Gazette
| Name | CARSON / CARSONS – James |
|---|---|
| Regiment (s) | 57th Regiment |
| Regiment Number (s) | 1406 |
| Date/Age/Place/Trade or Profession at Attestation | 4th May 1840 / 20 years / Belfast Ireland Butcher |
| Description – Height Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars | 5 Ft 5¼ in Fresh / Brown / Dark Brown / None |
| Overseas Service/Duration | East Indies – 5 years 2 months |
| Length of Service | 21 years 35 days |
| Rank/Date/Place of Discharge | Private / 7th June 1861 / Cork Ireland |
| Campaign Medals | None |
| Intended Residence at Discharge | Belfast Antrim Ireland |
| Pension Districts | 1861 1st Belfast 1862 Bermuda (in transit) 1863-1884 Western Australia |
| Pension Paid | 1/0d per diem |
| Date of Departure and Place England or Ireland | 30th October 1862 Gravesend (via Bermuda) |
| Ship and Date of Arrival Western Australia | MERCHANTMAN 15th February 1863 |
| Date/Place of Birth | c1820 Belfast Antrim Ireland |
| Date/Place of Baptism | Not yet known |
| Father Date/Place of Birth | Not yet known |
| Mother Date/Place of Birth Marriage | Not yet known |
| Siblings | Not yet known |
| 1st Wife Date of Birth or Baptism | FITZGERALD Mary c1833 Cork Ireland |
| Date/Place of Marriage | M 9th September 1854 St Michael’s Limerick City Limerick Ireland |
| Children by 1st Wife | Margaret Theresa B c1855 Ireland Bp 19th August 1855 Birr, Longhkeen Ireland M HEPBURN David 1879 Geraldton Western Australia D 16th September 1924 Geraldton Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Eastern Road Cemetery Geraldton Western Australia Mary Eliza B 1857 Fermoy Cork Ireland Bp 5th July 1857 Fermoy Cork Ireland Rebecca Rosa B 7th November 1858 Barracks Cork Ireland M TOWNSEND James Edwin 1880 Not yet known D 17th March 1897 Geraldton Western Australia Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Urch Street Cemetery now Apex Park Geraldton Western Australia Maria B 20th January 1861 Barracks Cork Ireland M MEADOWCROFT Arnold 1887 Geraldton Western Australia D 10th June 1947 Geraldton Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Utakarra Cemetery Geraldton Western Australia James Patrick B 1863 Fremantle Western Australia M CAVANAGH Louise Rose1890 Dongara Western Australia D 18th June 1941 Geraldton Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Utakarra Cemetery Geraldton Western Australia Mary Esther or Ester B 1865 Geraldton Western Australia M VINCENT John Beckley January 1887 Western Australia D 5th May 1960 Perth Western Australia bur Anglican Section Karrakatta Cemetery Western Australia Richard Bernard B 3rd July 1873 Geraldton Western Australia M OLLNIE or OTTINE Catherine Stonner 1898 Geraldton Western Australia D 24th Feb 1946 Geraldton Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Utakarra Cemetery Geraldton Western Australia William John B 1868 Geraldton Western Australia M MASSINGHAM Rosa Amelia1893 Western Australia D 5th July 1957 Perth Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Karrakatta Western Australia Joseph B 1871 Geraldton Western Australia D 6th March 1886 Geraldton Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Utakarra Cemetery Geraldton Western Australia |
| Land Grants Western Australia | 4th May 1874 Title application Greenough Lot 5 7th September 1874 Title application Greenough Lot 6 31 acres (approx.) |
| Occupation after Arrival | Temporary Assistant Warder Champion Bay 1865 – 2 days 1866 – 3 days Butcher |
| Newspaper Articles | The Inquirer Wednesday 27th April 1864 page 2 Passenger list Favorite West Australian 8th March 1886 – page 3 Death of son Joseph Carson Victorian Express (Geraldton) 13th March 1886 – page 3 Inquest into death of Joseph Carson West Australian 31 October 1892 page 2 Gold discovery at Lake Austin by James Carson (Jnr) Geraldton Advertiser Monday 31st December 1900 Page 3 death of May Carson Geraldton Guardian (1906-1928) Tuesday 25 August 1908 page 3 A Family Dispute: MEADOWCROFT V. CARSON. Geraldton Guardian Thursday 19th August 1909 page 1 Meadowcroft V Carson Geraldton Guardian (WA 1906-1928) 16 September 1924 page2 Death of Mrs. Hepburn Geraldton Guardian & Express (WA 1929-1947) June 17, 1947 page 3 Death of a Pioneer Late Mrs. M. Meadowcroft Obituary |
| Departure from Western Australia | Not applicable |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial | 20th April 1884 Geraldton Western Australia Urch Street Cemetery now Apex Park Geraldton Western Australia |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial Wife | 28th December 1900 Geraldton Western Australia Urch Street Cemetery now Apex Park Geraldton Western Australia |
| Will or Probate | Letters of Administration SROWA Cons 3458/1887/124 Mary Carson, James Carson and David Hepburn applied for Letters of Administration as James had died intestate. The estimate value of his estate was under £500 |
| Further Information | British Army Worldwide Index 1851 James Carson 1406 Private 57th Foot location Dublin 1861 James Carson 1406 Private 57th Foot location Cork Discharge at own request having completed 21 years service. The Surgeon Superintendent of the Merchantman rated the conduct of both James and Mary as being Very Good despite James having deprived of his liquor allowance for 7 days for striking private Bagley. He lists 3 children – Margaret, Rebecca and Moriah.(Mariah?) James was treated for an ulcer during the voyage. 22nd October 1866 Application to purchase Geraldton Town Lot (Fitzgerald Street) ¼ acre for £6. This was the allotment on which he built his home that was later contested by the siblings. Convicted at Geraldton 15 September 1874 of assaulting one Lance Corporal Patten and sent to prison for 14 days and on same date in default of finding sureties to keep the peace towards his wife for 6 months, sent to prison for that period also. Reported by SOP to be bordering on insanity. His pension to be paid to his wife during imprisonment 9.2.75 After her husband’s death Mary was well known as a nurse and midwife in the Geraldton area and when the Township of Geraldton published its “Geraldton:150 Years 150 People” Mary was one of the personalities so honoured |